Mike Tindall is just one of the star names who is set to take part in the keenly-anticipated one-off 745 Game at Kingsholm in 10 days’ time.

Gloucester back row Lewis Ludlow, one of the driving forces behind the game on Sunday 9th November, said that the 47-year-old former Gloucester star and England World Cup winner was one of many ex-players taking part.

Ludlow, who is 31, played alongside Tindall back in the day.

“I played with Mike when I first joined Gloucester,” he recalled.

“He was coaching the backs for the first two seasons I was at the club but he was still playing.”

Ludlow is calling on rugby fans around Gloucestershire and beyond to support the special game, which is 13-a-side, at Kingsholm.

The match, which will feature a mix of rules from both rugby league and rugby union, will raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive and life-shortening condition for which there is currently no cure.

“This game is huge, really big,” said ex-Gloucester skipper Ludlow, who is hoping to be back in action after a thumb injury for the Prem Rugby Cup game at home to Bath on Friday 14th November.

“We want to raise as much money as possible, it’s so important.

“If we could sell out Kingsholm, that would be amazing. And knowing rugby fans around here, nothing is impossible, it really wouldn’t surprise me.”

The numbers 745 are highly significant because they are the shirt numbers of MND sufferers and former players Rob Burrow, Ed Slater and Doddie Weir.

Burrow is a rugby league legend, Slater is an ex-Gloucester second row and captain, while Weir is a former Scotland second row who also went on a British Lions tour.

Slater, who is 37, will be at next month’s game and Ludlow said of his good friend: “He’s in good form. There are 75 MND sufferers coming to the game, it’s a condition that can happen to anyone.”

The first 745 Game took place at Headingley at the end of last year – the rugby league team won 33-21 – and Ludlow, who took part in the pre-game warm-up, says that supporters who go to this year’s game are in for a treat. 

The match kicks off at 5.40pm and Ludlow said: “It’s a great spectacle, the laws are heavily weighted towards rugby league, but you don’t have to be a rugby supporter to come along. We want everyone to come along and support what is a really important cause.”

And as well as Tindall there are some top-name former players taking part, including some well-known ex-Gloucester players.

“Billy Twelvetrees, Jim Hamilton and Jake Polledri are all involved,” continued Ludlow.

“The Young brothers, Ben and Tom, are also playing along with Joe Marler.

“There are some top rugby league players too – Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood, Luke Gale and the Griffin brothers, George, Josh and Darrell.”

The idea for the 745 Game originated from a WhatsApp conversation between Slater and Burrow.

Burrow sadly passed away at the age of 41 before the first game last year, but Slater continued to work to make sure it became a reality.

Doddie Weir died in November 2022 at the age of 52. His son Ben will be playing at Kingsholm.

The 745 Game – the laws
13-a-side – six forwards, seven backs.

Each team can bring on a goalkicker only for kicks at goal.

Unlimited tackles in your own half but six tackles once attacking team passes halfway.

Unlimited interchanges. 

Uncontested scrums from knock-ons and forward passes. These are taken on the 20-metre mark in from touch, attacking team can select which side of the field scrum is placed.

Uncontested five-man line-outs when ball goes into touch.

One-on-one ball steals allowed in tackle before attacking ball carrier gets to ground, once knee to ground, tackle complete, play the ball to restart play.

Two markers at tackle, offside is five metres from the play the ball.

Two referees, one union, one league. One officiating the ruck, the other offside.

Five points for a try, two for a penalty, conversion and drop goal.

If the ball is knocked dead in goal, goal-line drop-out from the defending team, must go at least 10 metres.

Penalties kicked to touch, re-start with a line-out or take tap from where penalty is awarded, advantage for union but encourages league to attack from penalties.